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Apply for Support for Renewable Energy Education

Apply for Support for Renewable Energy Education

About CE (formerly called Solar 4R Schools)

The Solar 4R Schools program has a new identity! We are getting a new name and new look that better represents the scope and impact of our program. We will still offer the following opportunities listed on this page...but the look and feel may change as we begin working together.

You may also notice some instances of the program’s historical name embedded in some of our content and URLs for kiosks for some time until the full transition is complete. Thanks for understanding!

ALREADY HAVE A PV SYSTEM? The Renewable Classroom project is for schools that are interested in integrating renewable energy education into their school's STEM/CTE curriculum. A Renewable Classroom project includes a teacher training, science kit materials for the classroom ($3,500 value) and ongoing support and resources from the CE staff. If your school already has an installed PV system and you want to leverage the educational benefits of the system with data monitoring for classroom use, an additional applicant match would be required to cover the cost for a touch-screen kiosk to display live solar energy data at the school or facility.

The Renewable School project includes a teacher training, science kit materials and the installation of a demonstration photovoltaic (PV) system at your school with data monitoring. Typical photovoltaic systems installed have ranged from 4-12kW, depending on local cost variables. An applicant match of $15,000 is typically required for a Renewable School project.

CE does not provide cash grants. Rather, CE provides selected schools with full-service support for the project (supported with local match) for teacher professional development training and resources, ongoing content/technical support and, depending on the type of project, project procurement and management of the installation of a demonstration-scale PV system by our colleagues in the Renewable Energy Group at BEF.

--> Application cycle: We take applications all year round. Our fiscal year runs from 3/31 - 4/1, so applications received earlier in our fiscal year have a higher chance of success.

Through contributions to its Green Power Program, Idaho Power awards up to two Renewable School projects per year to schools located within its service area. Thanks to Idaho Power Company’s Green Power Program participants for supporting the Solar 4R Schools program. The Renewable School offering and include teacher training, science kit materials and the installation of a small-scale demonstration photovoltaic (PV) system at your school with data monitoring. Typical photovoltaic systems installed have ranged from 1 to 4 KW, depending on local cost variables. Although applicant match is not required, it can be used to increase the system size beyond the awarded size.